The report is available in English with a a French summary - KCE
The report is available in English with a a French summary - KCE
The report is available in English with a a French summary - KCE
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34 Orthodontics <strong>KCE</strong> Reports 77<br />
POSTERIOR CROSSBITE<br />
Posterior crossbite <strong>is</strong> def<strong>in</strong>ed as any abnormal bucco-l<strong>in</strong>gual relation between oppos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
molars and/or premolars <strong>in</strong> centric relation. A difference should be made between an<br />
unforced and a forced posterior crossbite. <strong>The</strong> latter represents a unilateral posterior<br />
crossbite as a result of a functional d<strong>is</strong>placement of the mandible.<br />
Figure 7: Posterior crossbite<br />
Posterior crossbites may develop or improve at any time from when the baby teeth<br />
come <strong>in</strong>to the mouth to when the adult teeth come through. Most treatments have<br />
been used at each stage of dental development 23 . Posterior crossbites <strong>in</strong> the primary<br />
dentition are relatively common and their causes are numerous. <strong>The</strong> etiology of a<br />
posterior crossbite can <strong>in</strong>clude any comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong> dental, skeletal and neuromuscular<br />
functional components 24 . A posterior crossbite associated <strong>with</strong> a functional shift of the<br />
mandible towards the crossbite side (forced crossbite) occurs <strong>in</strong> 80 to 97 % of the<br />
posterior crossbite cases 24 <strong>The</strong> frequency of self-correction <strong>is</strong> 0% to 9%.<br />
A forced crossbite <strong>is</strong> generally considered to be one of the few malocclusions which<br />
should be considered for correction <strong>in</strong> the primary dentition.<br />
In 2001 a Cochrane review on the orthodontic treatment for posterior crossbites has<br />
been publ<strong>is</strong>hed. 23 <strong>The</strong> evidence (only from two trials) suggests that removal of<br />
premature contacts <strong>in</strong> the deciduous teeth <strong>is</strong> effective (<strong>in</strong> 28/71 treated cases; versus<br />
12/66 untreated cases) <strong>in</strong> prevent<strong>in</strong>g a posterior crossbite from be<strong>in</strong>g perpetuated to<br />
the mixed and adult dentitions. When gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g alone <strong>is</strong> not effective, us<strong>in</strong>g an upper<br />
expansion plate to expand the upper dental arch will decrease the r<strong>is</strong>k of a posterior<br />
crossbite from be<strong>in</strong>g perpetuated to the mixed and adult dentition. 23 . Because of the<br />
small amount of studies, the evidence <strong>is</strong> only low.<br />
In a more recent meta-analys<strong>is</strong> of immediate changes <strong>with</strong> rapid maxillary expansion<br />
(RME) Lagravere concluded that the greatest change from rapid maxillary expansion are<br />
dental and skeletal transverse changes and these changes are cl<strong>in</strong>ically relevant 25 . In<br />
another systematic review it <strong>is</strong> also concluded that the long-term stability of transverse<br />
skeletal maxillary <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>is</strong> better <strong>in</strong> skeletally more mature <strong>in</strong>dividuals (pubertal and<br />
postpubertal growth peak) than <strong>in</strong> skeletally less mature (prepubertal growth peak)<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals. Long term transverse skeletal maxillary <strong>in</strong>crease was found to be<br />
approximatively 25 % of the total appliance adjustment (dental expansion) <strong>in</strong> prepubertal<br />
children 26 .<br />
Another systematic review by the same author on the long term dental arch changes<br />
after RPE concluded that a cl<strong>in</strong>ically significant long-term maxillary molar arch width<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease (3.7 - 4.8mm) and a more cons<strong>is</strong>tent maxillary cuspid arch width <strong>in</strong>crease (2.2<br />
– 2.5 mm) can be achieved and th<strong>is</strong> to a similar degree <strong>in</strong> adolescents and adults. Less<br />
mandibular molar and cuspid arch width expansion was atta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> adults compared to<br />
adolescents. A significant overall ga<strong>in</strong> was found <strong>in</strong> the maxillary (6mm) and mandibular<br />
(4.5mm) arch perimeter <strong>in</strong> adolescents treated <strong>with</strong> RPE and edgew<strong>is</strong>e fixed appliances<br />
27 <strong>The</strong> results of th<strong>is</strong> systematic review are based on 3 studies that all had some<br />
methodological flaws; hence the conclusions should be viewed <strong>with</strong> caution.